Rubber pivot joint



Sept. 24, 1929. R. H. CHILTON RUBBER PIVOT JOINT Filed June 4, 1926 Jail WWW

Patented Sept. 24,1929 i UNITED STATES PATENT "OFFFICE OHIO, ASSIGNOR TO THE INLAND MANUFACTUR- ING- COMI' NY, F DAYTON, OHIO, A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE RUBBER PIVOT JOINT Application filed June 4, 1926. Serial No. 113,826.

This invention relates to pivot joints and nected b y means of the extension shackle to as particular reference to vehicle spring the downwardly curved end member 11 inthe pivot joints in Various con tegral with or fixed to the chassis side rail. rols and linkage connections in automobile An eye member 12 is rigidly fixed to the end of leaf by means of the threaded shank 13, An object of this invention is to provide washer 14: and nut 15. Eye member 12 has i i an elastic rubber pivot joint which is inexan aperture 16 which tapers outwardly on pensive to manufacture and of improved efiiboth sides. \Vithin the double tapered aperciency and life in use. ture 16 are inserted from opposite ends there- A more specific object is to provide such a of the two correspondingly shaped metal 60 'oint. wherein the rubber material is highly sleeves 17 which may or may not abut at the ompressed so that it is held in non-slipping central neck of aperture 16. These sleeves 17 vngagement with its contacting metal parts. preferably project endwise beyond the memn advantage of this feature lies in the fact ber 12 and have outwardly flaring flanges hat the rubbermembers do not have to be 18. Within the sleeves 17 are inserted the 05 *ulcanizedto the contacting metal parts'in two centrally apertured elastic rubber blocks rder to obtain a firm grip thereupomand 20 which fit snugly within said sleeves 17 ience the cost of manufacture and assembly and abut at the center of aperture 16. The s reduced. approximate shape of these rubber blocks20 Another object of the invention is to probefore being compressed by the lateral clamp 70 "ide rubber jointed spring shackles whose ing members described hereinbelow is illusateral movement or side sway is limited by trated by full lines in Fig. 4. direct compression of the rubber. The upper end member 11 is provided with Another object is to provide a rubber pivot similar parts to those above described. The 'oint which prevents dirt, mud, etc., from two pivot boltsv ices. and thereby causing rapid the washers 32,-and the outwardly flared end of the rubber material. disks 33 threaded thereupon, after which the Further objects I and advantages of the bolts 30 are inserted through the central aper- Jresent invention will be apparent from the tures 35 in rubber blocks 20. The apertures I ollowing description, reference being had 35 are of such size as topermit such insertion. so

' o the accompanying drawings, wherein a The corresponding end disks 36, washers 37,

. referred form of embodiment of the presand side link 38 are next placed in position nt invention is clearly shown. I and the lock washers 39 and nuts 40 placed In the drawings: over the projecting ends of bolts 30. The Fig. 1 is a view taken on line 11 of Fig. nuts 40 are then set up tight, thereby causing 86 and shows an automobile extension spring the two end disks 33 and 36 to clamp the rubhackle built according to this invention. ber blocks 20 tightly therebetween and com- Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the shackle. pressing the rubber from the full line config- Fig. 3 is a vertical section on line 33 of uration4l of Fig 4 to the dotted line con- I figuration 42 thereof. lVhen the rubber is 4 is a detail of one of the tapered elasthus put under compression it is pressed into ic rubber blocks inserted within its metal tight contact with the surface of bolts 30 and The full lines illustrate the shape sleeves 17, thereby causing a non-slipping if the rubber block as molded, while the frictional engagement between the rubber llititl lines illustrate its shape after its disand the containing metal walls. This com- 9 orlion by the lateral clamping members. pression of the rubber also forces the sleeves Similar reference characters refer to simi- 17 into tight engagement with theeye memar parts throughout the several views. ber 12 so that there can be no relative slip- Numeral 1O designates the long leaf of the ping therebetween. These sleeves 17 prefer ear spring of the automobile, which is conably have a longitudinal gap 19 therein (see first have the side link 31, 76

.Fig. 3) so that they or contract tates their insertion into the tapered aperture 16 and also eter to tightl ture 16 when li sion. Preferably dur ber blocks are first inserted 17 which may be expanded slightly tate the insertion of said blocks. sleeves 17 containing the rubb into the aperture 16. trated as having can be easily expanded ed a small amount. This facilipermits them to expand in diamgrip the walls of the apere rubber is put under compres ing assembly the rubwithin sleeves to facili- Then the er are pressed The bolt is illuslongitudinal serrations 43 therein against which the rubber is pressed,

thereby givin rotary slip disks 3 rated portion of th relative g'a firm grip against The end g between the two.

3 and 36 may fit snugly upon the sere bolts 30' so that they are substantially non-rotatably locked thereupon but easily mov links 31 and 38 are non the bolts 30 by any cient and shown in the drawings. The

f the square heads 44 of bolts 30 are sides o clamped down within cor 45 in the s bolts 30 have flatte the remai ing upon and the s shaped ap these flatted ends of bolts 3 flats 46 end abruptly at a shoulder 30, which shoulder ser against which the li :40. Shoulder 48 should be so located that when the nuts are set up the rubber blocks 20 are under the desired compression and bulge out between the flared ends 18 of sleeves in Fig. 1.-

While only a In operation, otal movement between t the side links will be'entir ternal twist in the rubber i will be no relative s upon another.

tion troub It will be the joint, ners, will si'on o 17 and disk 36 approxim ately as shown at 42 it will be obvious that the pivhe eye members and ely taken up by intself and that there lipping of one surface Hence all wear and lubricales of such pivot joints are avoided. noted that any lateral thrust upon such as'occurs be sustained by a direct compres f the rubber blocks 20. The double ta per of the sleeves 17 support the blocks 20 when the thrust is from either side.

.Preferably the parts of the shackle are assembled on the automobile chassis sothat the normal weight loado no initial twist on the rubber blocks will exert 20. This bling the at its pro 'no twist upon securing the lea member 1 f the vehicle ,body

can be easi complete sh per relative angular position with the rubber, and then properly f 10 tothe shank 13 of the eye 1y done by first assem- 38 is clamped by nuts during turning cor ackle to the member 11' double pivot extension shacklehas been illustrated and is obvious that a single pivot shackle,

nt en e representedby the lowas occurs on the fro mobile spring, can b er half of Fig. 1. The in that case would be ri of the chassis frame.

While the form of cut invention as herein a preferred form, it is to be understood that other forms might be within the scope of th What I clai spectively and locate therein and two corresp tic rubber blocks within each of said sleeves,

ing through sai and two side links interconnecta pin extend of said eyes,

ing said pins and non thereto.

2; In combination wi frame of a vehicle, a sh members fixed to thes'pring and frame reed adjacent one another,

spectively and locat each eye having a double tap therein and two correspondin tic rubber blocks within each of said sleeves, gh said blocks in each a pin extending throu of said eyes, ing said pins an to, and 'means laterally to exert pres of said rubber blocks,

are put under compression.

3. In a pivot oint between 1n combinatlon, an eye mem'- movable parts,

ber fixed to one of said metal sleeve inserted wardly flaring ends pr two corre inserted 1n said sleeve eye member, elastic rubber blocks from opposite ends there pin extending throu cured to the other of pressed a ainst the en by the r forced in tight contact with whereby said sleeve is expan into non-slipping engagemen f said embodiment of the prese claims which follow. m is as follows:

1. In combination with the spring and frame of a vehicle, a shackle comprising: eye members fixed to the spring and frame red adjacent one another, each eye having a double tapered metal sleeve and two si d non-rotatably secured therefor -moving said side links ds of said blocks whereu bber is put under compression ointbetween two. relatively ln-combmation, an eye memd therein having outwardecting beyond. said eye ondingly shaped elastic d in said sleevefrom ereof, extending through said to the other ofsaid pa against the ends of sai described in det two parts 31 and 38 gid with the side rail disclosed, constitutes adopted, all coming ondingly shaped elasd blocks in each -rotatably secured th the spring and ackle comprising: eye

cred metal sleeve gly shaped elasde links interconnectagainst the ends ereby said blocks sure wh two relatively parts, an expandable therein having outojecting beyond said spondingly shaped of, an isolated pivot. said blocks and sesaid parts, and means and said sleeve, and ded and forced t withsaid eye parts, adouble tapered n isolated pivot pin blocks and secured rts, and means pressed d blocks whereby the rubber is put under compression and forced in tight contact with said sleeve and the outwardly flared ends thereof.

5. In a pivot joint between two relatively movable parts, in combination, an eye member fixed to one of said parts, an expandable metal sleeve inserted therein, two correspondingly shaped elastic rubber blocks inserted in said sleeve from opposite ends thereof, an isolated pivot pin extending through said blocks and secured to the other of said parts, and means pressed against the ends of said blocks whereby the rubber is put under compression and forced in tight contact. with said sleeve, and whereby said sleeve is expanded into tight contact with said eye member.

(5. In a pivot joint between two relatively movable parts, in combination, an eye member fixed to one of said parts, a metal sleeve inserted therein having outwardly flaring ends, two correspondingly shaped elastic rubber blocks inserted in said sleeve from opposite ends thereof, an isolated pivot pin extending through said blocks and secured to the other of said parts, and metal washers having outwardly flaring margins pressed against the ends of said blocks whereby the rubber it put under compression and forced in tight contact with said sleeve and caused to bulge out between the flared portions of said sleeve and washers.

7. In a pivot joint between two relatively movable parts, in combination, an eye member fixed to one of said parts, a metal sleeve inserted therein and having outwardly flared ends projecting beyond said eye member, two correspondingly shaped elastic rubber blocks inserted in said sleeve from opposite ends thereof, an insolated pivot pin extendin through said blocks and secured to the other of said parts, and outwardly flaring end walls pressed against the ends of said blocks whereby the rubber is compressed and forced in tight contact with said sleeve and 4 so distorted by said compression as to bulge out into .the annular space between the flared portions of said sieeve and end walls.

8. In a pivot joint between two relatively movable parts, in combination, an eye member fixed to one of said parts, a thin metal sleeve having a longitudinal split therein and outwardly flared ends inserted vin said eye member, two correspondingly shaped elastic rubber blocksinserted in said sleeve from opi posite ends thereof, an isolated pivot pin extending through said blocks and secured to the other of said parts-and outwardly flaring end walls non-rotatably fixed to said pin and pressed against the ends of said blocks, whereby the rubber is compressed into tight contact with its confining metal walls and caused to bulge outwardly between the opposed flared ends of said sleeve and end walls.

9. In a pivot joint between two relatively movable parts, combination, an eye memsignature.

ber fixed to one of said parts, an expandible inetal'sleeve inserted therein, two correspondingly shaped elastic rubber blocks inserted in said sleeve from opposite ends thereof, an isolated pivot pin extending through said blocks and secured to the other of said parts,

and end walls fixed to said pivot pin and material inserted between and isolating said pivot member from said sleeve, said pivot member having a roughened surface, and end walls pressed against the ends of the elastic material to highly compress same and cause it to grip the contactingmetal surfaces with a non-slipping grip.

11. In combination with the spring and chassis frame of an automobile, a shackle interconnecting the spring end and frame comprising: double tapered eye members fixed to the spring and frame respectively transversely to the length of the spring, two parallel inner pivot pins extending through said two eye members but isolated therefrom by elastic rubber material, two side links non-rotatably fixed to the ends of said pivot pins, and metal end walls interposed between the elastic rubber and said side links and means for forcing said end walls laterally against said elastic rubber to retain said rubber under compression at all times.

12. In combination with the spring and frame of a vehicle, an extension shackle comprising: eye members fixed to said spring and frame, respectively, the apertures in said eye members being restricted at their central portion, two elastic rubber blocks inserted into each'of said eyes from opposite ends thereof, a pivot pin extending through said blocks in each of said eyes, two side links interconnecting said pins and non-rotatably fixed to the projecting ends of said pins, and means for retaining said side links compressed later- -ally against the ends of said rubber blocks whereby to cause said rubber blocksto grip said pins and eyes.

In testimony whereof I hereto affix my RALPH H. CHILTON. 

